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250 immigrant children reunited with parents in El Paso since ICE reunifications started

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Roger Andino, 24, and his son, Roger Andino Jr., 3, speak to reporters shortly after a press conference at the Annunciation House in El Paso. Andino and Pablo Ortiz 28 and Ortiz's son Andres 3, spoke to the media about their experiences while being detained and separated for several months from their sons. On Tuesday, three fathers were reunited with their children. RUBEN R. RAMIREZ/EL PASO TIMES

Pablo Ortiz, 28, and his son, Andres, 3, along with Roger Ardino, 24, and his son, Roger Ardino Jr., 3, spoke to members of the media during a news conference at Annunciation House in El Paso. Ortiz and Ardino talked about their experiences while being detained and separated for several months from their sons. On the night of July 10, three fathers were reunited with their children but only two spoke the next morning after the third, a father and daughter, already had left El Paso earlier that morning. RUBEN R. RAMIREZ/EL PASO TIMES

Roger Andino 24, gets a kiss from his son, Roger Jr., 3, after a press conference at the Annunciation House in El Paso. Andino and Pablo Ortiz, 28, and Ortiz's son Andres, 3, spoke to the media about their experiences while being detained and separated for several months from their sons. On Tuesday, three fathers were reunited with their children. RUBEN R. RAMIREZ / EL PASO TIMES

Pablo Ortiz, 28, kisses his son Andres, 3, at a press conference at the Annunciation House in El Paso. The Ortizes are from Guatemala. Ortiz's wife and a 4-year-old son are still in that country. RUBEN R. RAMIREZ/EL PASO TIMES

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Pablo Ortiz, 28, and his son, Andres, 3, along with Roger Ardino, 24, and his son, Roger Ardino Jr., 3, spoke to members of the media during a news conference at Annunciation House in El Paso. Ortiz and Ardino talked about their experiences while being detained and separated for several months from their sons. On the night of July 10, three fathers were reunited with their children but only two spoke the next morning after the third, a father and daughter, already had left El Paso earlier that morning.(Photo: RUBEN R. RAMIREZ/EL PASO TIMES)Buy Photo

About 250 immigrant families have been reunited in El Paso since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began the second phase of reunifications of separated families ordered by a federal judge in San Diego.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw set July 12 as the deadline for the federal government to reunite more than 100 children younger than 5 with their parents. The judge set Thursday, July 26, as the deadline to reunify thousands of immigrant children 5 and older who were separated from their parents at the border as part of the Trump administration's zero tolerance policy.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order June 20 ending the separation of families at the border as part of the policy.

“Thus far, Annunciation House has received approximately 250 reunified separated families, all of whom arrived at one of the multiple hospitality centers operated by Annunciation House,” a statement by Annunciation House officials said.

Annunciation House in El Paso is one of four non-governmental organizations in the country to receive families amid the court order.

“Release flows of separated families to Annunciation House during the past week have been uneven with some days having only a few separated families released and others a large number,” officials said in the statement. “There is no specific time of release nor are separated families being released in large groups. Sometime it’s one family that arrives, other times it might be five or six. Releases have tended to take place later in the afternoon, evening, and even as late as midnight.”

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Traditional Mexican dancers participate Friday in a march from Cleveland Square in Downtown El Paso to St. Patrick Cathedral, where a Mass was celebrated for migrants. Bishop Mark J. Seitz led the march. MARK LAMBIE/EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso held a march and mass to pray for migrants who have been separated by ICE. The march began at Cleveland Square in downtown El Paso and ended at St. Patrick Cathedral. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES

Annunciation House officials expect the number of families released to the shelter to increase as Thursday’s deadline approaches.

Officials said about 500 parents who were separated from their children are under ICE custody in the El Paso area, although, not all parents would be reunified with their children for "various reasons," according to the statement.

Aileen B. Flores may be reached at 546-6362. aflores@elpasotimes.com. @AileenBFlores on Twitter.

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Two fathers and their children meet with reporters a day after they were reunited at the Annunciation House in El Paso.
El Paso Times